Bristol Wayfarer joins Channel Island Airways

Channel Islandes Airways are the first on the
list of waiting customers for the Bristol Wayfarers
and, because of this, it is not surprising that their
main routes should be selected for a trial run of the new aircraft.

Guernsey stop

Piloted by A J Pegg, Bristol's Assistant Chief Test
Pilot with Commander J M Keene Miller of CIA in the
second pilot's seat, the Wayfarer flew from Filton to Southampton
and thence, after the passengers had passed
through the customs, to Guernsey. After being inspected
by the Lieut-Governor and Bailiff, it was flown over to
Jersey and there displayed to Mr Chuter Ede, the Home
Secretary, who was in the islands to celebrate the first
anniversary of their liberation from German occupation,
and to the good Jersey Islanders at large.

In the evening it was flown to Croydon, taking one hour fifteen minutes
for the 180-mile journey against a strong headwind. This,
it must be understood was a proving — not a delivery —
flight. It is expected that the first delivery will be made
at the end of May or early in June.

The outstanding impression one gets as the Wayfarer is
boarded is of spaciousness and solidity. No other cabin
has given such an appearance of roominess and strength
since the days of the HP 42 and Short Scylla. Even where
the main spar crosses the cabin roof there is plenty of
headroom for a tall man.

In width there is ample shoulder room for four people
abreast, and the gangway is of such width that passengers
do not automatically turn sideways to negotiate it.
Only a short stairway of three or four steps is needed
to reach the door from the tarmac, and the tail-down floor
angle is just right for comfortable progress to one's seat. There is no feeling of climbing, neither is there that climb
of eight or nine feet up a ladder to reach the door of a tricycle undercarriage aircraft that passengers so dislike.

Luxurious accommodation

The double armchairs, which Mr Rumbold has managed
to get down to 501b weight each, are very comfortable. For any flight lasting less than three hours the standard
can be considered as luxurious. Each armchair has a
square window of ample dimensions from which easy vision
is obtained for 120 deg on the fore-and-aft line and 60 deg
downward. One has to lean forward
slightly to use the windows to their
full advantage, and slight movement
of the headrests forward in relation to
the windows would be an improvement.

Where view is concerned, no
one could fail to appreciate the advantages
of the high-wing arrangement.
They are threefold: The glare from a
metal wing is avoided ; each seat has an equally good view, and the shade of
the wing is comforting and saves a
good deal of eyestrain.

It would be expected that the impact
of the slipstream from the airscrews
would hammer badly on the
slab-sided fuselage. This, however,
does not appear to happen. By
placing a hand on each fuselage frame
in turn it was impossible to detect excessive
vibration in any particular
member.

Two persons sitting side by
side in one of the armchairs are able
to carry on a conversation without
raising their voices, and the talk going
on around one can be heard without
straining the ears.

Bold British look

Wayfarer has a bold and very British look about it. It must,
of course, be remembered that it is developed from an entirely
freight-carrying type.

Nevertheless there is a pronounced drumming which is
distinctly unpleasant. Having carefully tested the cabin
for slipstream hammer and volume of noise, one can only
presume that the trouble lies in the stub exhaust pipes
which are fitted. If these were fed into a collector ring
and taken by two long exhaust pipes over the wing, it is
possible that a big improvement would result. The only
other slight criticism which might be made is that when
the individual ventilators are unscrewed to admit air, the
control plates become loose and rattle in an irritating
manner.

The luggage rack is quite exceptionally good. It appears
to hold the baggage in a gentle grip, and there is none
of the usual vibration dance which moves one's luggage
two seats further down the cabin.

A final impression. By the shortness of run taken both
for take-off and landing on this proving flight, it is obvious
that the Wayfarer can operate from any airfield in the
world worthy of the name.